An emotional school reunion took place at a Florida court when a judge had suddenly recognized the defendant to be her former classmate from decades ago, whom she said she was friends with, and who was the nicest kid in middle school.

Judge Mindy Glazer at the Miami-Dade bond court was reading out
the sentence for Arthur Booth, who was charged with burglary,
resisting arrest, grand theft and related charges Thursday.

The defendant, 49, was arrested on Monday by Hialeah Police. They
took interest in him after it was determined that the gold Honda
he was driving was implicated in a burglary, according to NBC. A
chase ensued and led to arrest only after two accidents and
multiple stop signs were ignored. Booth let himself be taken
without resisting.

The man had prior convictions for burglary and grand theft.

On Thursday, as Glazer was reading out the verdict, she had
suddenly realized that Booth was her classmate from years ago,
someone she remembered quite fondly.

"Did you go to Nautilus?" Glazer asked, referring to the
middle school, where the pair had decades ago been classmates.

This moved Booth, as he repeated, “Oh my goodness!”
several times, trying to keep the tears at bay and smile, but
eventually breaking down.

"I'm sorry to see you here," Glazer went on. “I
always wondered what happened to you, sir.”

She added: "This was the nicest kid in middle school, he was
the best kid in middle school. I used to play football with him,
all the kids, and look what has happened.”

"I am so sorry to see you there. Mr. Booth, I hope you are
able to change your ways, good luck to you," the judge said.
"What's sad is how old we've become. Good luck to you sir, I
hope you are able to come out of this OK and just lead a lawful
life."